One limitation of QTP that has always bothered me is the inability to reuse its web objects after the browser reloads. I spend countless cpu cycles parsing the DOM to find an element, grab enough properties to make it unique, build a description with those properties and finally get the right micobject. Then I perform some action and that reloads the page, and my object is useless. If I want to use it, I have to start the process all over again.

After years of struggle to find an answer, I packed some gear, hired a Sherpa and set off to find a guru who could give me an answer.
(more…)

In case anybody wants to come by, I will be presenting at HP Software Universe this year on Thursday 6/19 at 8:30a.

The session is Automating Web 2.0 using HP QuickTest Professional 9.5 Web Extensibility.

This should be a good session. I’ve become a big fan of QTP’s Web Extensibility. I will show you how we are using it to create classes for our custom web controls.

Also, Patterson Consulting is donating a Test Design Studio license to be given away at this presentation. I have been testing WebExt support for an upcoming version of Test Design Studio, and the difference between TDS and manually editing the WebExt XML and Javascript files is amazing.

I’ve now had a few days with Quicktest Pro 9.5, and most of that time has been spent with the new Web Extensibility feature. This feature has huge potential. I look forward to seeing how it is accepted by QTP programmers.

The basic idea is that you can create your own QTP add-in. When your add-in is loaded, Quicktest will recognize objects you defined in your add-in and make your custom methods available for them.

After I went through the tutorial in the QuickTest 9.5 documentation, I jumped into creating a Web add-in for a simple DIV in the product I am testing. I called the extension auLogin and the object auLoginForm. The first method I added was SubmitLogin. All it does is click the Login button. This seemed to be an unambitious task, but it proved more difficult than I counted on because I didn’t learn as much as I thought through the tutorial. It is also something much easier done with the single line Browser().Link(”html id:=Submit1_a”).click, but this exercise is about learning, not being efficient.
(more…)

I managed to get my hands on a copy of Quicktest Pro 9.5, and it appears to not be as big of a change as I expected. At least the portions of QTP that I use are mostly unchanged. It looks like most of the updates happened in the area of Object Repository and various n00b features.

The first thing that struck me as soon as I saw the default font is that HP doesn’t consider QTP a tool for programmers. Rule number one for every IDE should be that nobody wants a proportional font. At least it only took about 15 seconds to change the font to Consolas.
(more…)

If anyone else is going, I’ll see you at Mercury World.

I think we should have an Inquisition party at the Ghostbar at the Palms.

What’ch’all think? Can I get a show of hands? What night should it be?

So, with this merger comes some questions, particularly about the future of Quality Center/WinRunner/QuickTest Pro, etc.

My reading of both the press release and articles like this tells me that the acquisition was much more about SOA than about testing. So where does that leave us grunts? Here is a list of questions I have about this. Note just how much this makes me look like a guy who sticks to functional test automation, and not a guy who speaks in acronyms and sees everything “from 40,000 feet”.

Since it doesn’t exactly fit within the ITG category, will it be spun off into another company or something?

I want better APIs and more web services. The APIs available now are decent, but they’re very 1990s, very COM, very Web 1.0. I understand the industry is in a bit of a transition right now, but is there going to be more or less of an effort in this direction as a result of the merger?

My understanding of the Mercury policy on this kind of information is roughly, “take the $2500 training course if you have high-fallutin’ questions.” They don’t write books, they don’t offer (good) Best Practice advice for free, and they aren’t extremely good at helping advanced users (at least with QuickTest Pro–there isn’t even a QTP 9 Expert course out there yet).

I want to write a book about QTP–”The stuff they don’t tell you” or something like that–but I don’t know if any publisher would be allowed to release it at the moment (O’Reilly already passed on the idea, both because it’s Mercury and because of the “small size of the testing market”–the latter of which I believe will change as more companies move to automation/outsourcing).

I want to know whether or not they will let up on the whole “fair use” thing and allow publishers to release some better information about how to use their products. People seem to be screaming for this kind of information, based if nothing else on the number of hits we get from specific, targeted Google searching.

That’s all I have for now. Anyone else want to weigh in? Maybe I’ll be able to get some of these questions answered at Mercury World.

HP to Acquire Mercury Interactive Corp

Acquisition positions company as a market leader in IT management software
PALO ALTO, Calif. – July 25, 2006 – HP today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Mercury Interactive Corp., a leading IT management software and services company, through a cash tender offer for $52.00 per share, or an enterprise value of approximately $4.5 billion, which is net of existing cash and debt.

Upon closing, the acquisition will establish HP’s portfolio of IT management software and services as the clear choice for companies seeking to optimize the value that IT brings to business.

“Today, we are combining two market-leading businesses to create the most powerful management software portfolio in the industry,” said Mark Hurd, HP chief executive officer and president. ”Together, they will help customers cut their IT costs, speed the delivery of new services and drive profitable growth at HP. We expect this important acquisition to deliver significant value for our shareholders.”

Mercury Chief Executive Officer and President Tony Zingale said, “Together, HP and Mercury instantly become the industry’s premier provider of business technology optimization (BTO) software. A deal of this magnitude creates significant opportunities for our customers, our shareholders, our people and our partners.”

The transaction brings together the strength of HP OpenView systems, network and IT service management software with Mercury’s strength in application management, application delivery, IT governance and service-oriented architecture governance. This combination provides customers with the industry’s most robust suite for optimizing, automating and aligning IT services with business needs.

“HP’s software strategy is to be the clear leader in end-to-end enterprise IT management and help our customers tightly align IT priorities with changing business requirements,” said Thomas E. Hogan, senior vice president, Software, HP. “Combining our HP OpenView offerings with Mercury’s BTO Enterprise offerings will integrate the many building blocks of enterprise IT management into one complete solution for the entire IT lifecycle, from planning through to deployment and operations. Mercury is a results-driven, high-performing company with outstanding people that will be a strong addition to HP.”

The Mercury acquisition is expected to increase the size of the HP Software business to more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Immediately following the close of the transaction, Mercury will become part of the HP Software business and both companies’ sales forces will begin reference-selling each others’ products.

HP forecasts that on a non-GAAP basis, the combined HP Software business will deliver revenue growth of approximately 10 percent to 15 percent and operating margin of approximately 20 percent in fiscal year 2008. On a pro forma basis, the transaction is expected to be approximately $0.04 dilutive to non-GAAP per share earnings in fiscal year 2007 and approximately $0.02 accretive to non-GAAP per share earnings in fiscal 2008. This includes purchase accounting adjustments related to deferred revenue write downs and deferred compensation expense of approximately $141 million, or $0.05 per share, in fiscal 2007 and approximately $43 million, or $0.01 per share, in fiscal 2008, as well as expected synergies.

The acquisition will be conducted by means of a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Mercury, followed by merger of Mercury with an HP subsidiary. The tender offer is subject to a number of conditions, including that Mercury has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2005. HP expects to commence the tender offer promptly and the merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2006.

Webcasts and conference calls
This afternoon, HP will conduct one webcast and two live audio calls to discuss its intent to acquire Mercury. Mercury will conduct a separate webcast for financial analysts.

HP media call: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT, hosted by Mark Hurd. U.S. dial-in: +1 866 356 3377; International dial-in: +1 617 597 5392, passcode: 36175291. Replay information, available until Aug. 1, 2006: U.S. dial-in: +1 888 286 8010, International dial-in: +1 617 801 6888, passcode: 16464601.

HP conference call and webcast for financial analysts and shareholders: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, hosted by Mark Hurd. Listen only dial-in: U.S. +1 800 299 0148, International dial-in: +1 617 801 9711, passcode: 82591745. Live audio webcast: www.hp.com/hpinfo/investor. Replay information, available until Aug. 1, 2006: U.S.: +1 888 286 8010, International dial-in: +1 617 801 6888, passcode: 55367340.

HP industry analyst call: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT, hosted by Thomas Hogan. U.S. dial-in: +1 800 299 8538; International dial-in: +1 617 786 2902, passcode: 83000965. Replay information, available until July 25, 2007: U.S. dial-in: +1 888 286 8010; International dial-in: +1 617 801 6888, passcode: 57320057

Mercury financial analyst webcast for analysts and shareholders: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT, hosted by Tony Zingale; David Murphy, chief financial officer; and, Shelly Schaffer, vice president, Corporate Finance.

U.S. dial-in: +1 800 289 0533; International dial-in: +1 913 981 5525, passcode: 4078554. The webcast link will be available on Mercury’s website: www.mercury.com/ir. The replay will be available via the same link.

Questions about the Mercury call should be directed to Shelly Shaffer at +1 650 603 4592 or Michelle Ahlmann at +1 650 603 5464.

A replay of the Mercury call will be available at +1 719 457 0820 or +1 888 203 1112, passcode: 4078554. Replay will be available shortly following the conclusion of the live call for one year and the dial-in replay will be available until July 31, 2006.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER TO BUY OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES. THE SOLICITATION AND THE OFFER TO BUY SHARES OF MERCURY COMMON STOCK WILL BE MADE ONLY PURSUANT TO AN OFFER TO PURCHASE AND RELATED MATERIALS THAT HP INTENDS TO FILE WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. MERCURY STOCKHOLDERS AND OTHER INVESTORS SHOULD READ THESE MATERIALS CAREFULLY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER. ONCE FILED, MERCURY STOCKHOLDERS AND OTHER INVESTORS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE ‘TO,’ THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND RELATED DOCUMENTS WITHOUT CHARGE FROM THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION THROUGH THE COMMISSION’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV. MERCURY STOCKHOLDERS AND OTHER INVESTORS ALSO WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THESE DOCUMENTS, WITHOUT CHARGE, FROM INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED, THE INFORMATION AGENT FOR THE OFFER, AT +1 877 750 5838 OR BY EMAIL AT INFO@INNISFREEMA.COM, FROM MERRILL LYNCH & CO., THE DEALER MANAGER FOR THE OFFER, AT +1 877 653 2948, OR FROM HP. STOCKHOLDERS AND OTHER INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THOSE MATERIALS PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.

About Mercury
Mercury, the global leader in business technology optimization (BTO), is committed to helping customers optimize the business value of information technology. Founded in 1989, Mercury conducts business worldwide and is one of the fastest growing enterprise software companies today. It provides software and services to govern the priorities, people, and processes of IT; deliver and manage applications; and integrate IT strategy and execution. Customers worldwide rely on Mercury offerings to improve quality and performance of applications and manage IT costs, risks and compliance. Mercury BTO offerings are complemented by technologies and services from global business partners. For more information, please visit www.mercury.com.

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2006, HP revenue totaled $88.9 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

Note to editors: HP news releases are available via RSS feed at www.hp.com/hpinfo/rss.html.

###

Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including the expected benefits and costs of the transaction; management plans relating to the transaction; the anticipated timing of filings and approvals relating to the acquisition; the expected timing of the completion of the transaction; the ability to complete the transaction considering the various closing conditions, including those conditions related to antitrust regulations; any projections of earnings, revenues, synergies, accretion, margins or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including the execution of integration plans; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that expected benefits may not materialize as expected; risks related to the timing or ultimate completion of the transaction; that, prior to the completion of the transaction, Mercury’s business may not perform as expected due to uncertainty; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP’s and Mercury’s Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the risks described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2006 and other reports filed after HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 and Mercury’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

7/2006

Editorial Contacts
Robert Sherbin
HP
+1 650 857 2381
robert.sherbin@hp.com

Ryan J. Donovan
HP
+1 650 857 8410
ryan.j.donovan@hp.com

Mike Moeller
HP
+1 650 236 3028
michael.moeller@hp.com

HP Media Hotline
www.hp.com/go/newsroom
+1 866 266 7272
pr@hp.com